West Mercia PCC’s Newsletter

This month’s edition includes a final call for you to have your say on the Government’s proposal to merge the 43 police forces in England and Wales to 12, by taking part in my public consultation survey.

There’s also news about knife crime, motor vehicle theft, rural crime, car cruising, and praise from a member of the public for two officers who provided support when the individual needed it the most.

Plus much more news directly related to the community you live in.

Read on to find out more!

Thank you,

John Campion

West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner

Last chance to have your say on the future of policing  

Thousands of residents have already had their say on the Government’s proposal to create 12 ‘mega forces’.

The countdown is on for those who have not already had their say, as this is your chance to share your thoughts on the biggest change to policing in more than six decades.

I believe communities want a police service that is fit for the challenges policing now faces, so it is right that time is being given to modernise policing. But it is vital this is done with the public, not to the public.

Make sure your voice is heard by completing my 3 minute consultation survey before Monday 15 June!

Eight arrested in series of nail bar inspections

Organised crime gangs often prey on the most vulnerable in our society, and their activity can sometimes hide in plain sight.

That’s why I’m committed to working with West Mercia Police and partner organisations to tackle serious organised crime head on, as detailed in my Safer Communities Plan.

A recent operation in Herefordshire showed this activity in action, as eight people were arrested on suspicion of immigration offences during a series of inspections at Vietnamese nail bars in Hereford city centre on 21 May.

Officers from Hereford Safer Neighbourhood Team and West Mercia’s Economic Crime Unit led on 12 visits to a number of premises.

They were supported by Herefordshire and Worcestershire Fire & Rescue Service, Immigration Enforcement and Herefordshire Council Environmental Health and Housing Enforcement.

The collaborative partnership used agency powers to enter premises and was aimed at clamping down on concerns around money laundering, fire safety and human trafficking linked to the nail bars.

The operation was assisted by cash detection dogs PD Thor and PD Maui [pictured], who sniffed out a total of about £23,500 in cash suspected to be linked to money laundering.

Preparations and information gathering around operations like this are happening across West Mercia 365 days a year, and I will continue to support the force and work with partner organisations to make sure the resources are in place to deliver the results that keep all communities across Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin safe.

Knife crime in West Mercia continues to fall

I hear regularly from the public about their concerns around knife crime and understand the profound impact it has on victims, families and whole communities.

While offences in West Mercia remain low and continue to fall, we must not be complacent.

The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show an 11% reduction in knife crime in 2025, compared with the previous year. This is encouraging progress – but one incident is still one too many.

Over recent weeks, West Mercia Police has been highlighting its year‑round work to tackle this issue through Operation Sceptre.

My team has been out across the three counties seeing this work firsthand – from hotspot patrols and test‑purchase operations, to engagements at cricket sessions, skate parks and community events.

We also saw the important work taking place with Steer Clear, an organisation I support, which helps educate young people about the dangers and consequences of carrying a knife. Prevention and early intervention are key to keeping people safe.

If you are in possession of a knife, please use one of the knife surrender bins located in the front offices of several police stations across West Mercia. Disposing of a weapon safely could prevent a tragedy.

Together, through education, enforcement and community action, we can continue to reduce knife crime and keep our communities safe.

Driving down vehicle crime

For many people, their car is one of their most valued possessions. That’s why it’s so important that policing continues to identify and bring to justice the organised crime groups who seek to profit from stealing them.

It is therefore welcome news that West Mercia has seen a significant fall in vehicle thefts, with offences down 18.8% in 2025/26 compared with the previous year. This is clear evidence that the work taking place locally is making a real difference.

Tackling vehicle crime has been a consistent focus in my Assurance & Accountability meetings with the Chief Constable. It is also an area where additional resources have supported targeted police operations with partners across the three counties.

In my last newsletter, I shared the results of Operation Flare, where eleven members of a cross‑border gang responsible for stealing more than 100 cars between May and August 2024 were sentenced to almost 100 years in total. This was a strong example of what determined, intelligence‑led policing can achieve.

But enforcement is only one part of the picture. Prevention is equally important. That’s why we continue to provide advice to motorists, distribute vehicle security packs and SmartWater marking kits, and ensure a visible policing presence in areas most at risk.

My commitment is clear: I am determined to make West Mercia a no‑go zone for criminals, and these results show that we are moving firmly in the right direction.

Find out the full stats and the vehicles most frequently targeted by criminals on my website.

Government needs to address rising cost pressures from kennelling illegal dogs

The impact of kennelling illegal dogs and veterinary costs on West Mercia Police continues to grow.

That’s why I have written to Emma Reynolds MP, UK Government’s Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), to outline the pressure this is placing on policing.

In 2024/25, we budgeted £226,000 but ended up spending £552,000 – £326,000 more than planned.

In 2025/26, we budgeted £375,000, but the actual cost was £715,000 – a difference of £340,000. For 2026/27, the budget has had to increase to £656,000.

To put this into context, since 2024, the budget for kennelling and vet costs has risen by 190%, while the funding provided by DEFRA has not kept pace with what is needed.

The law rightly requires seized dogs to be safely kennelled until a court determination is made so these costs are unavoidable. However, prolonged court timelines – often outside the control of police forces – means dogs remain in kennels for extended periods, driving up costs and increasing welfare risks.

Unless addressed, this ongoing shortfall will continue to be met from existing policing budgets, diverting funding away from core policing priorities and neighbourhood services that matter most to you.

In light of this, I set out a range of measures to address this. You can read them by clicking on the link below.

Thanks to community support and the hard work of West Mercia Police officers and staff, two men and a teenager linked to car cruising in Shropshire have been handed driving bans after videos showing them driving recklessly were discovered by police.

The incidents were at three seperate locations in the county. One in Halesfield in Telford, a second in Tescos in Shrewsbury, and a third near Minsterley.

Following an investigation between roads policing officers and safer neighbourhood teams, the drivers were identified, charged and later pleaded guilty at Telford Magistrates’ Court.

All three were handed a 12-month driving disqualification, a four-month curfew between 7pm and 5am, and ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work.

It’s this type of inconsiderate behaviour that contributes to our communities feeling unsafe, and I am reassured by the sentence that the courts are playing their part in discouraging it. The behaviour of the individuals involved was reckless and put lives at risk.

I will continue to work with the force and community groups to tackle anti-social behaviour and dangerous driving, and provide the force with the resources needed to secure further successful prosecutions.

‘I felt heard and supported’: Response officers praised by person in need

West Mercia Police officers and staff work incredibly hard to support and protect people, but that doesn’t always involve pursuing criminals, it can also involve responding to a call for help when an individual is at their most vulnerable.

While a mental health crisis is something the ambulance or health service is normally called for, sometimes when people fear a life is in danger it is the police who are the first to respond.

That is what happened last month, when two West Mercia Police response officers were called to a concern for safety.

The individual they helped, later contacted the force to praise them for the compassion, reassurance and life-saving support they gave them at a railway station.

The person said that “they treated me with respect and like a human – something a lot of people forget to do”.  Adding, that they “felt heard and supported during a time when I felt most alone.”

“People like them make a profound difference in the community, especially for those navigating mental health crises,” the person said.

Working as a police officer isn’t just a living, it’s a way of life. It says something about who you are. And these two officers showed the very best of what it takes to be a response officer.

Significant progress being made in tackling rural crime

Six months ago, almost 30 members of the farming community across Herefordshire met with my deputy Marc Bayliss to talk about rural crime and the work West Mercia Police was doing to tackle it.

Concerns were raised with regards poaching, hare coursing, vehicle and equipment theft, and livestock worrying and theft.

I raised these concerns with the Chief Constable and progress has been delivered at pace, including:

• Rural crime training for call handlers with the support of the National Farmers Union
• £50k of funding from my budget to buy two 4×4 vehicles
• Increased targeted activity to tackle hare coursing and poaching

The positivity at the follow-up meeting six month’s on, was testament to the action taken and the continued positive results in catching criminals and regaining stolen property.

But the work does not stop here. This is only the beginning of the activity taking place across Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire to protect communities and tackle these types of crimes.

Welcoming new officers into the West Mercia family

Passing out ceremonies are always a highlight in my diary. They mark a truly momentous milestone for those beginning their policing journey after completing their initial training – and for the loved ones who have supported them every step of the way.

From new police officers to Special Constables, each of the 56 recruits will soon be serving communities across our three counties, focused on keeping you safe and making a positive difference from day one.

Join me in giving them a warm West Mercia welcome as they step into their new roles and begin their careers protecting the public.

Building on a long‑standing partnership, I’ve increased my investment in a service delivering proven results, following the Ministry of Justice’s decision to withdraw funding.

The Out of Court Resolution (OOCR) service, delivered by the award‑winning Willowdene Rehabilitation, continues to transform lives by preventing more women from entering the prison system.

By providing tailored support that tackles the root causes of offending and helps women move forward safely and sustainably, more than 275 women were referred into the service by West Mercia Police in 2025, and reoffending was halved.

Following the loss of Ministry of Justice funding, I have committed an additional £26,424 to ensure Willowdene can continue delivering its full OOCR service for the next six months. This brings my total investment for 2026/27 to £82,827.

Improving skills to reduce the harm caused on our roads

It’s a sad fact, that motorcycle riders are more likely to come to serious harm on our roads than any other road user.

From January to December 2025, there were 462 collisions on West Mercia’s roads, which resulted in 56 deaths and 473 serious injuries. Of these, 11 of the fatalities and 78 of those seriously injured, were the rider of a motorcycle.

That’s why I was keen to support a recent event at Redditch Police and Fire Hub.

Run by Redditch Advanced Motorcyclists Group, in partnership with myself, West Mercia Police and Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, the event gave motorcyclists – and those thinking about getting on two wheels – the chance to learn more about motorcycling and riding skills.

Attendees had the opportunity to chat with experienced motorcyclists about staying safe, take a free 30‑minute ride with a qualified observer, and get practical advice on training, kit and improving confidence on the road.

Through events like this and other educational initiatives that I subsidise, together with enforcement activity, I’m determined to reduce the amount of harm caused on all our roads and keep our communities safe.

Find out some of the work West Mercia Police is doing by clicking your local policing area.